Jazzrael feat. Malek Andrea, Szőke Nikoletta és Gerendás Péter / CAFe 2017

Featuring: Andrea Malek, Nikoletta Szőke – voice, Péter Gerendás – guitar

The members of the ensemble: Bandi Jáger – piano, Roland Balogh – guitar, Ákos Csejtei – saxophone, Viktor Hárs – double bass, András Lakatos Pecek – drums

Pianist-composer Bandi Jáger is known to many as the most authentic Hungarian interpreters of Latin jazz. Jazzrael, the band he formed over ten years ago, is not dedicated to Cuban or Brazilian rhythms: they fuse Sephardic melodies and songs from the Middle East and Israel with jazz harmonies. Seeking original interpretations of traditional musical folklore, they offer new takes on well-known songs. The members are nationally recognized jazz musicians. 

Famous Jewish melodies around the world, their anniversary concert series, is based on a simple yet unusual concept: throughout the evening, they salute the most diverse composers and performers of Jewish music, from George Gershwin to Michel Legrand, from Katalin Karády and György G. Dénes to Pat Metheny.

“Avishai Cohen, Ofra Haza, Yaron Herman or Pat Metheny were a great influence,” Bandi Jáger told in an interview. “They are world stars of Jewish origin, who successfully fused Israeli music and jazz. That’s also the ambition of Jazzrael.”